"After almost 50 years in Seattle, NOAA's decision to select another homeport is deeply disappointing," Mayor Greg Nickels said in a statement. "Ultimately, this was a real estate decision between NOAA and a private Lake Union landowner who could not compete with massive public subsidies. We will work with our congressional delegation to explore next steps."

City Councilwoman Jean Godden said she felt the selection committee had been influenced "by millions of dollars in state subsidies offered by the Oregon Legislature."

"The announcement that they are leaving must serve as a wakeup call to our city, to our citizens and to our congressional delegation that we must work harder. We must redouble efforts to retain our many valued businesses and economic activities," Godden said.

NOAA plans to base four research ships and up to two visiting ships at the new port on Oregon's central coast, beginning in 2011, pending the signing of a 20-year lease. The base in Seattle currently has about 175 employees, including 110 officers and crew assigned to the ships.

In a news release, NOAA said it based its choice on the Port of Newport's ability to meet its infrastructure needs, closeness to maritime industry resources and NOAA labs, quality of life for employees, and the ability to meet the planned occupancy date of July 2011. The current lease in Seattle expires on June 30 of that year.

"This was the right decision for NOAA, for Oregon and for the port and community of Newport," Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said in a news release. "It is also a tremendous compliment to those at the Port of Newport and other elected officials in the community who worked tirelessly to convince federal officials that Newport would be the best home for the NOAA fleet."

NOAA has berthed its ships on the Lake Union in the middle of Seattle for decades and has laboratories a few miles to the east on Lake Washington. However, Lake Union has been rapidly changing from an industrial waterfront to a residential and urban playground, with high-priced condos, marinas and houseboats lining its shores, along with nearby office, medical and retail developments.